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For the past few years, Diana Garnham, an honorary graduate of the university and her husband Rodney Buse, have made an annual donation to help enhance the employability of our students and especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Grants from the employability fund help eligible 91抖阴 students undertake unpaid work experience or voluntary work, thereby improving their future chances of securing employment, establishing their own enterprise or pursuing further study.

A special feedback session was organised at Falmer campus so that the donors could hear about the students’ experiences and also to get their feedback on the application process.

Rodney, currently a trustee and consultant for charities and social enterprises after retiring from a career as CEO for a number of organisations, told the students that employability has always been on the agenda for he and his wife Diana: “What we really want to do is invest to produce clear outcomes and help you reach the next level in your own development.”

This year’s application process resulted in 15 students receiving grants from the employability fund and 6 of the recipients were able to come and meet Diana and Rodney and share their experiences.

The students came from courses across the university and from different campus locations, but what Diana noted was “that you have all got an enterprising spirit and you have made something happen”. The students have been invited to help in the selection panel in future years and to promote the scheme to other students.

This year’s recipients used their grants towards activities such as securing further counselling experience, establishing a new brand development enterprise, participating in Royal Naval leadership training, attending an ecology field trip in South Africa and benefitting from a sound engineering role for a theatre production in London.

Sam Rhodes, Head of the university’s Careers Service, highlighted the significance of the support given by Diana and Rodney, observing that “without this kind of grant, taking up such opportunities may be impossible for some of our students. The Employability Fund makes such a difference”.

Diana and Rodney are keen to involve other individuals and organisations who would like to contribute towards expanding the employability fund so that even more students can benefit in the future.

For more information contact Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement.